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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- pauloceanic@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- nigeria, (mr.paul smith ) through below email address: pauloceanic@hotmail.com or pauloceanic2@yahoo.com tel no. 234 8020999313 kindly (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- pauloceanic2@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JUSTICE OPARA NDU <presidency.office37@yahoo.com.ph> (may be fake)
Reply-To: pauloceanic2@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 05:50:05 -0300
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE ECONOMIC AND DEBT REFORM
DEPARTMENT.
WORLD BANK READ, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (Civil Procedure)
(F.H.C.B) (ARANGEMENT)
Attention Sir
We are very sorry to you over the delay to transfer your contract/inheritance
fund.
The meeting being held this morning with all government organizations is to
make sure that all foreign beneficiaries are been paid before the end of this
very month September 2012.
Why have you decided to abandon this fund by refusing to pay the $255 dollars
for the renewal of your fund transfer file, Be rest assure that as soon you
send the $255.00usd they must start transferring of your fund through our
offshore paying bank within 2hrs after confirmation of the fee without any
further delay and this is the only fee you have to pay in this transaction as
it was written down already by the Federal government of this country that
mapped out the compensation for you.
Be inform that the amount you will be receiving is $10musd once you send the
$255.00usd for the renewal of your transfer file, As part payment.
However, you are therefore advice to Contact the General Manager of foreign
remittance Department of Oceanic bank Plc of Nigeria, (Mr.PAUL SMITH
) through
below email address: pauloceanic@hotmail.com or pauloceanic2@yahoo.com Tel No.
234 8020999313
Kindly notify us with this address (presidency.office37@yahoo.com.ph) or your
nearest F.B.I office after 2hours you did not receive your payment of $10musd
(Ten Million United State Dollars) from Mr.PAUL SMITH OK.
Send it to bellow information via western union or money gram:
Receivers name James Uche Nwaogu
Amount:$255.00usd only
Address... Lagos Nigeria.
Text question... In God.
Answer. We trust.
MTCN.............
Sender's Name.....
Sender's Address:
And send him your Fund Release Pin R1209I so that he will transfer
your fund to
you immediately they receive the $255 from you.
Thanks and accept our congratulations.Pls bear in mind that this is the only
payment require for you to pay,Any person asking you to pay any other money do
not mind him or her.
JUSTICE OPARA NDU
FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA
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